HC Deb 26 April 1950 vol 474 cc956-7
57. Mr. Wood

asked the Minister of Food if he will remove the regulation limiting the purchase of flour to a quantity not exceeding 28 lb. at any one time.

Mr. Webb

No, Sir. This regulation is intended to discourage large purchases of flour for illicit feeding to livestock. But people who need to buy more than 28 lb., such as home bakers or farmers and others in outlying districts, can get authority to do so from the local food office, so that no hardship is imposed on the legitimate consumer.

Mr. Wood

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think it queer that the farmer is allowed to feed one quarter of his home produced wheat to his stock and yet is only allowed to buy flour for his family and his workmen in such small quantities?

Mr. Webb

That is rather a question for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture. I agree that, on the whole, this is rather a clumsy regulation, but it does for the moment serve its purpose, and until we are sure of our ground on a wider basis I would rather keep it going.

Mr. Turton

While serving the Minister's purpose, it is causing a great deal of inconvenience in country areas and will the right hon. Gentleman look at the matter again and try and avoid the necessity of wholesale application by allowing larger purchases of flour in the more remote districts? If he could remove the regulation from those areas, it would be much better.

Mr. Webb

indicated assent.